Process for reacting hydrogen and oxides of carbon
We're compelled to preface our excerpts from the above link, "Process for reacting hydrogen and oxides of carbon", by first explaining where we might get some "hydrogen and oxides of carbon".
Although hundreds, perhaps thousands, of similar, impeccable, explanations exist, we ourselves are sort of partial to the technology disclosed in our earlier report:
WV 1955 Hydrogen & Syngas from Coal | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 2,699,384 - Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen from Carbonaceous Solids; 1955; Inventors: Luther Perry, et. al., Charleston, WV; Assignee: E.I. DuPont and Company, DE; Abstract: This invention ... is more particularly directed to the preparation of hydrogen ... and gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide (from) coal ... wherein the ratios of the constituents can be accurately controlled (in) a process for the preparation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the partial combustion of coal in the presence of steam".
We'll suggest some other attractive options, as well, following excerpts from our initial link in this dispatch, which documents how, shortly after we were all rudely surprised at Pearl Harbor, an historical icon of the US petroleum industry clearly explained how a blend of Hydrogen and Carbon Oxides can be efficiently converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuels:
"United States Patent 2,266,161 - Process for Reacting Hydrogen and Oxides of Carbon
Date: December 16, 1941
Inventors: Donald Campbell, et. al., NJ
Assignee: Standard Oil Development Company, DE
Abstract: This invention is more particularly directed to process involving reactions between carbon monoxide and hydrogen, such as the production of methanol and other alcohols, 'synthol' and similar mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons and oxyorganic compounds.
(The "oxyorganic compounds" would be alcohols, and related materials. And, even though Carbon Monoxide alone is mentioned in the above passage, the plural "oxides of carbon", which we take to include Carbon Dioxide, as well, is used throughout the full Disclosure.)
This invention, however, especially relates to the manufacture of hydrocarbon constituents containing more than one carbon atom in the molecule by a process involving the hydrogenation of oxides of carbon in which the rapid exothermic reaction is controlled in a manner that the temperature of the reaction does not vary without the predetermined critical temperature range whereby higher yields of products of improved quality are obtained.
(We have earlier documented, in a number of previous dispatches, that the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic condensation of Hydrogen and Carbon Oxides into liquid hydrocarbons, of which our subject "United States Patent 2,266,161" is an improved variant, involves an exothermic chemical reaction. Others have suggested that the heat of that reaction could be reclaimed and recycled into other stages of the "syngas" production process for improved overall operational economies. Standard Oil herein is much more focused on controlling the temperature of the reaction, by removing exothermic heat, in a way that allows them to control that reaction, and thereby exert beneficial influence over the specific types of hydrocarbons synthesized.)
In accordance with the present invention the temperature of the reaction is controlled within the desired range by employing a powdered, suspended catalyst and tubular reaction zones operated under conditions to remove the heat of reaction by a cooling fluid circulated without the tubular reaction zones.
(In) processes in which relatively higher boiling hydrocarbon constituents are manufactured from carbon oxides and hydrogen it is essential that the temperature not vary substantially from the predetermined operating temperature. It is also preferred that the heat of the reaction be removed as it is formed through the reaction zone usually by means of a cooling medium circulated without the wall.
This may be accomplished by employing our invention, which comprises utilizing a suspended powdered catalyst and immediately removing the heat of the reaction indirectly along the path of flow of the reaction gases in the reaction zones by circulating a cooling medium without the reaction zones.
The process of the present invention may be widely varied. The invention essentially comprises employing a suspended powdered catalyst in a tubular reactor reaction zone and immediately removing the heat of reaction along the path of flowing gases through the walls of the reaction zone.
The present process also permits the independent control of time of contact and catalyst concentration which results in better yields of improved products.
Claims: Process for the production of reaction products having more than one carbon atom in the molecule involving the reaction of hydrogen and oxides of carbon."
------------------
And, to be clear, such "reaction products" do include, as Standard Oil specifies, "methanol and other alcohols ... and ... mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons".
What they are disclosing is a better physical plant to process "hydrogen and oxides of carbon", so that the mix of final products, i.e., "liquid hydrocarbons", can be specified and controlled.
And, it reflects a very, very sophisticated understanding of such chemical reactions, as they could be conducted on very large industrial scales, that was extant within the petroleum industry, and within certain branches of our US Government, well-more that half a century ago.
Further, to emphasize the point:
We can make Hydrogen rather easily and directly, by a process such as that reported in:
Japan Hydrogen from Water and Sunlight | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,909,979 - Water Photolysis System and Process; 2011; Assignee: Panasonic Corporation, Osaka; Abstract: The present invention provides a water photolysis system (in which) water ... is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen".
Which process also generates, as a by-product, the Oxygen which we could utilize in another process, such as that described in:
Germany 98% Pure Carbon Monoxide from Coal, CO2 and O2 | Research & Development; concerning: "Carbon Monoxide from Coke, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen; 1986; Lurgi GmbH, Frankfurt (Germany); Abstract: Many valuable organic chemicals-both as intermediate or final products-can be made from high purity carbon monoxide (CO). In order to provide a source of inexpensive CO ... merely two process steps are required ... . The ... first process step is to gasify coke using a mixture of CO2 and O2 as gasification agent while the second one serves to remove sulfur compounds ...";
wherein the Oxygen, co-generated with the Hydrogen in the process of USP 7,909,979, can be used to support reactions between hot Coal and Carbon Dioxide, reclaimed from whatever convenient source, perhaps a Marcellus Shale Gas cleaning and stripping facility; which reactions convert them all into Carbon Monoxide.
That Hydrogen and that Carbon Monoxide can then be reacted, through the Standard Oil process of our
subject "US Patent 2,266,161", and be made to form, again as Standard Oil specifies: "methanol and other alcohols, 'synthol' and similar mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons".